Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-01-19

ON the books of the secretary of state, the
sum of So. 06746. ALI of this sum has been re-
tanned for trespaSs that has been committed upon
lands claimed by the state as swamp.
The disbursements from the Governors con-
tlngent nlnd 10 december 81, 1885 were S1,O7s 20,
and the balance to the credit OF the fund on that
day was $3,656.21. / recommend the usual ap-
preparation of 81, COO per year.
ACCOUNT WITH THE GENERAL GOV ERNMENT.
have the pleasure OF reporting to- the Legisla-
ture that all of the account known IS the war tax
levied against the state of Wisconsin, amounting
to S519 $685. 81, has been paid and that the United
States owes, upon the settlement. to the state
of wisconsin IS 409. 49, and some Of the old claims
ara still pending upon which it is hoped to re-
ce1ve additional sllo anoes. When assumed
the duties of executive there was 1907 6S5. 16
standing against the state. This amount has
been paid by CT otis which were allowed the
state upon the read uetment OF our claims against
the general government for war purposes, for
swamp land indemnity, and for per centum of
the sales of pubic lands prior TO June 30, 1882.
The whole amount of the war tax, in my judg-
ment should be refunded to the several states.
measure is now pending before Congress to re-
imburse the several states by repaying such as
have paid, and crediting such as have not paid
If this should pass, Wisconsin will receive $519-
6S8 81, out of which the school and swamp land
funds could be reimbursed for the amounts di-
yerted from those funds and the balance paid in
to the general fund. / would recommend that
the Legislature memorabilia congress to pass this
measure.
have also collected the per centum on the
sales of public lands for 1883, amounting to S24,
20s.2l, and on account of swamp land indemnity
sS6S 60 all of WHICH has been paid into the state
treasury. L expect to be able to collect from
these sources for the years 1884, 1885 and 1856,
800, 600 more.
CHARITABLE AND PENAL INSTITUTIONS.
The report of the State Board of Supervision
presents very full and satisfactory showing re-
garding the management of the state institutions
under its care The total amount expended by
the board during the biennial term ending Sep.
TENDER so, 1886, was S735, 008 SO. OF the amount
appropriated two years ago for the maintenance
and support of the SIX charitable and penal in
situations, been nu0XDendGd.
be returned into the treasury. During the two
years ending last September, the total num-
state institutions 4076, against 3,721 for the
previous biennial term. Although there has
been an increase of 355 in the number of persons
cared for, the current expenses for the biennial
term ending September 30, 1876, were $l2,3lh37
less than for the corresponding term ending Sep
TENDER 80, 1884. While there has been an aver
age decrease in thu per capita cost of managing
the institutions, the weekly average for 1856 be-
ing s. 10, the lowest ever reached there has been
no curtailment. but rather an enlargement OF the
amount of necessary supplies furnished
The State Hospital for the Insane, for 1885, cost
S94 SAT, ard for 1885, S94,2 g. the weekly per
capita cost falling of from 80. 90 in 1885 to S3 as
in 1886. The appropriation asked for by the
board for the next two years is STA, 054 20 over
ana above SAL S72 per year, which will be received
from the counties and the estimated surplus of
$4,000 from the last appropriation.
The Northern Hospital for the Insane cost for
its maintenance in 1885, Sl21 65S. and for 1885,
Sl06 5O2S5 decreasing the weekly per capita cost
from IS. 70 in 1885, to S. % in 1885, The Board of
Supervision estimates that the appropriation
needed for the institution Tor 1887 and 1888 will
be $lSO2SS besides the estimated surplus of Sl7-
600 from The appropriation two years ago, and
$40 900, which will be received each year from
the counties.
The school for the deaf has q surplus of S., 600
from the last appropriation, and the Board es-
Inmates that $4,000 will be required to support
the school for the coming two years. The ex
penSes for 1885 were S37 1885, 80, and for 1885, $780,
U43 OF. 1he population has decreased from 205 in
1885 to l95 in 1rS6. the increase In cost being
buildings by renewals, and by making the corps
of teachers stronger than ever for the purpose OF
meeting the demand for more thorough inStruc-
tiOn in the oral department.
The school for the blind cost the state S1e,-
1880 in 1885, and ST. 48i36 Ia 1886. The aver
eye attendance in 1885 81, and in 1886 it bad
increased to only g. The weekly cost per capita
fell off from S6t3 in 1885 TO $500 in 1885, 1t Will
be seen that the per capita cost is much greater
than in any other of the charitable institutions,
owing to the fact that the attendance Is usually
small, and also because the care and instruction
ofthe blind are more expensive than for any
other class Of pupils The board asks for an APP
preparation Of SA,250 for the biennial term,
which will enable it to make such needed re-
pairs as are necessary to keep the buildings in
good condition.
pense of S45,6lS.27 for 1885, and s4l947.44 for
1886, the weekly per capita cost falling off from
$500 in 1885, to $3.50 for last year, The annual
cost of the shops. for material and labor Is esti
mated at $40, 6n, but the sales therefrom will an
nually meet this expenditure, so that the total
appropriation recommended by the Board, Tor
curreut expenses for the next two years. is
S74. ALB, IN addition to Sl9,0G0 which will be re-
ceived from counties
The state prison had 443 inmates in 1885. and
456 in 1856, The total expense of the prison for
1885 $54 94403, and for 1886 $62 l6S40 the in
crease being caused by substantial Improvements
and the establishment of a hospital. The receipts
from convict labor were S49,3S6. 81 in 1885, and
$5G50747 in 1885, that the net cost of the pris
on to the state, for the past two years, was only
Sl72l9.39.
The contract for the labor of the convicts of the
state prison, under the system adopted some years
ago. viii expire with the year 1887. Under this
Vlcts by the hour, and retains the manage
ment and feeding of the prisoners. Should the
Legislature determine to abolish the system now
IN use, some method should be provided for the
employment of the inmates. 1t would be disas-
trous to the prisoners, we as the state to un-
dertake to maintain them in idleness They
should work. They should assist certainly in
paying the expenses of their keeping. AS re-
formatory measure, also, they should be en-
ployed Each should produce accol ding to his
ability, and receive according TO his needs" AS
near az practicable they should be so employed
that their labor or products would not come
into competition with free labor
The cost of maintaining the prison during the
continuance of the present contract for the labor
will be about S6O,a00, of which $4,000 will be
received from convict labor, making the ap-
ISL p' ''''-0- 'A'O 'O' y 'i' '0''u ''A''00 40
Within the next two years the prison will be
filled to Its utmost capacity, and it would be wis
dom on the part of your honorable body to take
this question under consideration and, if it shall
be thought best to establish another prison, to
cons1ds the suggestion of the prison warden and
the recommendation of the board, that the new
prison be set apart for the younger convlcts COM
mitted for the first cfenss, with the hope that
such prison would present the best conditions
for RET rmatory work. as the mixing o. criminals
of al ages and degrees OF crime Is not calculated
to work reform among those who most II ed the
wholesome influence OF a purely retormatory in
stitution.
The State Public School for. Dependent and
Neglected Children was established by authority
of chapter 3?7 laws Of 1885, and was located at
Sparta. Three buildings were erected under the
direction of the State Board Of Supervision, and
80 far the location and Improvements hava cost
$29, 367. The Board reports that the indications
are that within few months the school build
lngs will be filed to their utmost capacity
COUNTY ASYLUMS.
There are now organized, under the county
system fifteen county asylums. and these seem
to be doing good work in a satisfactory man
ner. The danger of this system is the liability
that an anxiety on the part of local managers and
superintendents to make an economical showing
to their counties will cause these institutions to
revert to PauPer system. This danger is now
obviated by tbs rigid state supervision main
tanned by the State Board of Charities
and Reforms The power of this board
is made potent over the several institu-
tions, by requiring them to have the approval of
the Board to the suificfency of their buildings
and the methods of their management, before
they are entitled to the state aid of $3.50 per